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Bats are extremely misunderstood animals. All around the world people have an irrational fear for these animals. They fear that they will give them diseases or suck their blood just like a Vampire. But this is far from the truth. These facts will show you just how misunderstood they are and why they are so important for the environment and all its fauna as well as flora.

They Pollinate Our Plants

Bees and birds get a lot of praise for pollination and so they should. But what about bats? In just 1 night bats can fly an area the size of the Gold Coast to Brisbane. That means they pollinate a greater then both birds and bees. Some plants can only be pollinated by bats as they flowers only open at night! They are a keystone species. This is a species that is vital for the environment to function. If we take out the bats the forests will suffer the consquences.

Only One Type Of Bat Sucks Blood

Most people think that bats suck your blood but the truth is that one species does that. That species is the Vampire Bat. Most people don't have to worry about this animal as it doesn't live near us. In fact is lives in South America.

Only A Minute Percentage Of Bats Carry Diseases

In all of Austraila's history only 3 people have died from bat transmitted diseases! Only extremely sick bats carry disease. You are more likely to get struck by lightning, fall off a ladder, injure your self from a staple gun or killed by a vending machine then getting a disease from a bat!

​​We Are Making Bats Become Endangered

​Just like we are threatening Elephants and Rhinos we are also threatening bats too. Many species like the Grey Headed Flying Fox which is local to the Gold Coast are endangered because of us. But how are we threatening bats? Bats get entangled in barb wire fences and fruit netting, this can cause their death. Bats also fly into power lines. Another threat they face is shooting. But their main threat is habitat destruction just like with many other animal species.

You Can Help Bats!

Image Credit: Steve Parish Nature Connect

We have the power to change things for the better. We all do. Simple actions help to save wildlife just like bats. Write to the government and tell them that you want them to do more to conserve bats. If you have fruit netting take it down and dispose of it responsibly. Instead of having the netting put bells on your fruit trees they they will ring when they land on it and that will scare them away.

On Wednesday I attended a bat talk "The Beauty of Bats" by Dr Ali Sammel which was organised by Gecko at the Currumbin RSL. Dr Ali Sammel lectures at Griffith University, has written three books, is a science teacher and works with bats! How busy! The Australian Bat Clinic (ABC) and Bats QLD also were there and brought in all four species of Flying Fox - the Grey Headed Flying Fox, Black Flying Fox, Little Red Flying Fox and the Spectacled Flying Fox and babies! Conservation of our native flying fox and bat species is really important. Australian bats are so misunderstood and most people don't realise how important they are for the Australian ecosystem. They are crucial for the pollination of many Australian native trees and forests. Did you know that many of our Native trees only release their pollen at night? You can learn more about Grey-Headed Flying Foxes on my website if you click on the link, Grey-Headed Flying Fox